The civilian transport aircraft of Caproni (1918

The civilian transport aircraft of Caproni (1918-1939)
For: www.europeanairlines.no
By: Rob Mulder
During the years preceding the Second World War, Caproni produced a number of aircraft for
civilian use. It started with conversion of military types, but soon pure civilian airliners were
designed. Not all were successful. This article will focus on some of these civilian designs.
The Società Italiana Caproni was a formed by
Count Gianni Caproni and started up its
business in 1908 (In 2008 celebrating 100
years ago). During the Great War it belonged
together with FIAT to the most important
aircraft manufacturers in Italy. During the
Great War it constructed some of the most
interesting biplane and triplane bombers that
were even used abroad by the other Allied
countries. Most notorious are the series of
bomber of the Caproni Ca 3.
Caproni Ca 48 (*1919): Caproni started after
the Armistice the development of civilian
was in the nose of the nacelle and a further six
passengers were housed on top of the cabin,
thus probably making it one of the first two-
deck civilian airliner. On top sat also the
pilots. It was powered by three 400hp Liberty
12-N-engines – two mounted in the middle
wing and a third on the rear of the fuselage.
The undercarriage consisted out of two sets
of wheels with each four wheels mounted on
them. The twin booms carried an elevator
and three fins.
One of these giant visited the First Aviation
Exhibition Amsterdam – ELTA (August –
September 1919) and enjoyed immense
conversions of its bombers. Between the twin
popularity. The Dutch Prince Consort, H R
of housing seventeen passengers. They had
aircraft. It is very unlikely it ever entered
booms a huge cabin was constructed capable
to sit on long benches that were placed
alongside the wall of the cabin. Large
windows offered a great view. The entrance
Prince Hendrik, visited the impressive
airline service and was possibly only used for
promotional work.
Specifications:
Span 29.90m
Length 13.20m
Height 6.30m,
Wing area: 200m²
Engines: Three 400hp Liberty 12-N
Crew: 2
Passengers: 23
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Empty weight 4,000kg
strut-braced wheels, while the third wheel
Maximum speed 140kmh
prevent it from tipping on its nose during a
Loaded weight 7,200kg
was mounted under the nose of the aircraft to
rough landing. One of the Ca 450s attended
the First Aviation Exhibition Amsterdam –
ELTA (August – September 1919). It still
carried a military serial: Ca.23170, but later
several Ca 450s were registered in the civilian
register of Italy.
Specifications:
Span: 22.74m
Length: 11.05m
Height: 3.84m
Wing area:
Engines: Three 150hp Isotta-Fraschini V.4B
Crew: 2
Passengers: 6
The main cabin of the Caproni Ca.48. (Illustration from
Gli Aeroplani Caproni)
Empty weight: 2,400kg
Loaded weight: 3,900kg
Maximum speed: 130kmh
Caproni Ca 450 (*1919): It was a classic
Caproni-design dating from 1916 and the
successor of the Ca 2. Compared with the Ca
Caproni Ca 49 (*1919): The seaplane was
struts on the wings with a third engine
in an enclosed cabin. The triplane had four
airscrew. Caproni designated it as Ca 450,
board. Three of the engines faced forward,
designation Ca 450 comes from the fact that
were given as followed:
It was a biplane of wooden construction with
Specifications:
carry a crew of two and six passengers all in
Length: 13.00m
and the undercarriage consisted out of two
Wing area: 250m²
2 it had installed two of the three engines on
designed for the transportation of passengers
mounted aft of the fuselage with a pusher
engines, but never came from the drawing
while the Italian Army called it Ca 3. The
one backwards. Its technical specifications
it had three 150hp Isotta–Fraschini engines.
fabric covering. The civilian version could
Span: 34.50m
open cockpit and nacelle. It had a triple fin
Height: 7.80m
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Engines: Four 300-375hp engines
the wings.
Passengers:
Specifications:
Loaded weight:
Length: 11.05m
Crew: 2
Span: 22.20m
Empty weight:
Maximum speed: 140kmh
Caproni Ca 49.
Height: 3.85m
Wing area: 100m²
Caproni Ca 54 (*1919): Triplane converted
from the Caproni Ca 53. A cabin for
passengers was simply added in which just
four passengers could be carried.
Caproni Ca. 55 (*1919-20): A diversion from
the Caproni Ca 54, but fitted with floats.
Specifications:
Engines: Two engines of 300hp
Crew: 2
Passengers: 6
Empty weight: 2,100kg
Loaded weight: 3,500kg
Maximum speed: 120kmh
Caproni Ca 57 (*1919): The next of the giant
Span 13.25m
Capronis was the Ca 57. The Ca 5 was the
Length 9.05m
basic model for this civilian post-war
Height 4.20m
conversion and it was based on the
Wing area 65m²
Engines: two 450 – 500hp
Empty weight 1,700kg
experience gained with the Ca 3. In 1917 the
Caproni Ca 5 made its first flight. The threeengine biplane was again of a wooden
Loaded weight 2,500kg
Maximum speed 175 – 190kmh
Caproni Ca 56 (*1919): Diverted from the
Caproni Ca 32, a twin-engine bomber from
the Great War. Two 300hp Fiat A.10 engines
powered the biplane. The cabin could house
six passengers and was placed well in front of
construction and fabric-covered. A large
passenger cabin, including toilet and luggage
compartment, had replaced the central
nacelle. The empty weight was reduced, to
allow seating for eight passengers and a two–
member crew. The Caproni Ca 57 made in
August – September 1919 an appearance on
the First Aviation Exhibition Amsterdam –
ELTA (the Netherlands). It was placed on
the
stand
of
the
Italian
section.
Unfortunately its arrival was marked with
problems on the sandy underground. But
there was no damage to the aircraft and it
could be towed and pulled to safety.
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Specification:
Ca 48, but was now powered by either Fiat
Length: 12.60m
cabin was a little bit smaller and instead of
Span: 23.40m
A.14 or Isotta-Fraschini V.6 engines. The
Height: 4.48m
benches proper seats were installed in the
Wing area: 150m²
Engines: Three-200hp Isotta-Fraschini V.6
narrow cabin. Beside the new lay out the
number of passengers possible to carry was no
Crew: 2
less than thirty divided over two decks and
Empty weight: 3,300kg
had no less than five engines with a total
Passengers: 8
included a bar, a toilet and a luggage hold. It
Loaded weight: 5,000kg
Maximum speed: 140kmh.
The picture below shows the Caproni Ca 57, Ca.12042, at
the ELTA in Amsterdam. In front in the middle we
recognize Capitano Francesco Brack Papa, who flew
another Italian wonder child: The Fiat B.R.
horsepower of 2,000hp. The crew sat in the
open air in front of the upper cabin.
The Caproni Ca 59 was intended to be an
export version of the Ca 58, but none of the
aircraft were ever exported.
Specifications:
Span 22.20m
Length 11.05m
Height 3.85m
Wing area 100m²
Engines: five 300 – 400hp
Empty weight 2,100kg
Loaded weight 3,100kg
Another picture of the Caproni Ca 57 at the ELTA in
Maximum speed 120kmh
Amsterdam. This was taken on the Italian section in one of
the halls.
Caproni Ca 58 and Ca 59: The Caproni Ca
58 and Ca 59 were basically the same aircraft.
It was modified from the impressive triplane
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Caproni Ca 60 (*1920-21): This is a story of
Length 23.45m
article about this aircraft. The nine wing
Wing area 750m²
itself. We could have written a separate
flying boat was constructed for service across
the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic
Ocean. Its capacity was said to be no less than
Height 9.15m
Engines: eight 400hp
Empty weight 14,000kg
Loaded weight 26,000kg
100 passengers and it was powered by no less
Maximum speed 130kmh
Caproni mounted three bombers on a large
Caproni Ca 73 (*1924): This was a civilian
pontoons on each side. The cabin was
designation. It was designed in 1924 and was
than eight 400hp Liberty engines. Basically
fuselage and for better stability mounted two
described as a grand ‘scafo-cabina’. But it
never flew with that many people. On 4
version of the military bomber with the same
an unequal-span biplane powered by two
500hp Isotta-Fraschini Asso water-cooled
March 1921 the aircraft took finally to the sky
engines.
height of 60 feet before it crashed and was
another civilian version: the Ca 73bis C with
over the Lake Maggiore, but only reached a
destroyed beyond repair. It sank to the
bottom of the lake, killing two crew
The
cabin
two 450hp Lorraine-Dietrich engines.
Specifications:
Below: Joel Christy built a model of the aircraft and has
Span
25.00m
Height
5.60m
picture and you will be directed to his article. Great work,
Joel!
Length
Wing area
Engines:
Ca 73
Ca 73bis C
15.10m
15.10m
143m²
143 m²
2/500hp
Empty weight 3,200kg
Loaded weight 5,000kg
Max speed
175kmh
We also found a movie clip of the aircraft on
YouTube: Caproni Ca 60
Specifications (of the original!):
Span 30.00m
The prototype of the Caproni Ca 73.
© 2009, article published on
house
ten
passengers, mail and luggage. There was
members.
reported about the model in a nice article. Click on the
could
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25.00m
5.60m
2/450hp
3,200kg
5,200kg
180kmh
The cabin of the Caproni Ca 73 with its square windows.
Caproni Ca 82 C: Diverted from the Ca 73 it
Specifications:
was an aircraft capable of carrying ten
Span 25.00m
in front of the cabin. The biplane had
Height 5.60m
two engine mounted in tandem. At the end of
Engines: two 500hp
The entrance was placed under the wing and
Loaded weight 5,900kg
passengers in a cosy cabin and a crew of two
Length 15.10m
unequal wings (a feature of Caproni) and had
Wing area 143m²
the cabin was even a toilet for the passengers.
Empty weight 3,700kg
was not too big. A luggage hold was right
Maximum speed 190kmh
on each side of an aisle and they were made of
Caproni Ca 90 (*1929): Although out of the
known: I-AABR, I-AAMG, I-AASA, I-
was at the time of appearance the world’s
under the cockpit. The cabin had five chairs
Rotan. The following registrations are
context of this book: This aircraft (a bomber).
AASB, I-BAUP and I-BAUR (a Ca 73ter,
largest landplane. Only one was built.
also designated Ca 82 Civile).
Caproni Ca 97 C. Tr. (*1928): In 1928 the
building of the all-metal Ca 97 C. Tr. began.
Caproni wanted to design and built a high-
wing monoplane for civilian and military
service. In early 1929 the prototype made its
The Caproni Ca 82 C was able to carry ten passengers. It
was diverted from the Caproni Ca 73 and resembled it very
much.
maiden flight and was later registered IAANM (c/n 2523). In August 1929 it was
delivered to the Avio Linee Italiane. Its cabin
could seat six passengers in a simple layout.
The aircraft had three 130hp LorraineDietrich radial engines. Beside delivery to
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Avio Linee Italiane, one Ca 97 was delivered
but since this was not an air transport aircraft
3079) and later passed to Ala Littoria SA. Mr
though is the Caproni Ca 101, which was an
to Società Area Mediterranea (I-ABCA, c/n
it will not be described here. Of interest
Salvatore Casteli from Taliedo operated the
enlarged version of the Ca 97. The aircraft
(c/n 2992) on the service Milan – Verona –
built of steel-tube and fabric-covered. The
Padua – Venice. The Caproni Ca 97, OK-
three-engine aircraft made its first flight in
1931 delivered to the Czechoslovak airline
airliner, but was soon adapted to the role of
single-engine Caproni Ca 97 C Tr, I-AAQN
BEK (c/n 3080, ex I-ABEK) was in October
Československa Státni Aerolinie - ČSA and
operated the next summer on the domestic air
service Prague – Marienbad – Carlsbad.
Beside the Ca 97 C. Tr. there was also a
was a high-wing strut-braced monoplane
1927 and was initially planned as a civil
bomber/transport aircraft. Its use is widely
known. There were only a limited number of
civilian aircraft built. Its design resembled
that of the Fokker F.VIIb-3m and other
version called Ca 97 C. Mon. (I-AASV ) that
contemporary aircraft of the twenties. It was
to this aircraft there was also one delivered to
Siddeley Lynx with metal propeller. The
was equipped with one engine of 450hp. Next
the Istituzione Geografico Militare in Firenze
(I-BEVA).
initially fitted with the 200hp Armstrong
1,200 liters fuel tank was located in the upper
part of the central fuselage. All three engines
had 44 liters of oil in a tank located behind
the engine. There were several type of
engines installed. The Ca 101 Civile had
three Lynx or Walter engines of 200 – 250hp,
the Ca 101 CO (Coloniale) had two 200hp
Specifications:
Lynx and one 420hp Jupiter IV, the Ca 101
Length 10.85m
finally there was the Ca 101 Civile with three
Civile had three Alfa Romeo D 2 engines and
Span 16.00m
Piaggio Stella VII engines.
Height 9.15m
Wing area 40m²
Engines: three 130hp*
Empty weight 1,200kg
Loaded weight 2,500kg
Maximum speed 195kmh
* With three Lorraine-Dietrich engines.
Caproni 101 (*1927): The most successful
aircraft of Caproni was the Caproni Ca 100,
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The civilian production of the Ca 101 is as
Littoria SA, Bengasi and August 1937 sold
I-AAQO (c/n 3006) May 1930 to SA
I-ABCO (60524) December 1931 to Caproni,
good as complete:
Aerocentro da Turismo, Milan;
I-AAQQ (3017) May 1930 to Caproni,
Taliedo, October 1932 sold abroad;
abroad;
December 1931 to Aeronautical Military
Administration;
I-ABCI (3349, Ca 101bis) 5 August 1932 to
I-AAQR (3015) May 1930 to Caproni,
SA Nord-Afrika Aviazione, Bengasi, to Ala
Aeronautica;
I-ABCJ (3350, ca 101bis) 24 September 1932
Taliedo,
August
1932
sold
to
Regia
I-AAZA (?) 6 October 1930 to Ministero
Aeronautica Uffdi SM, Centocelle, March
1934
to
Administration;
Aeronautical
Military
Littoria, Bengasi, August 1937 sold abroad;
to SA Nord-Afrika Aviazione, Bengasi, to
Ministero Aeronautica, Roma and later to
Ala Littoria, Bengasi;
I-AAWZ (3443) 19 May 1934 to Caproni,
I-ALBA (3081) 2 June 1931 to Società Area
Milano (based at Taliedo), fate unknown;
Milan and finally to Ministero Aeronautica;
SA Nord-Afrika Aviazione, Bengasi, to
Mediterranea, Littoria, later to Caproni at
I-ABCK (3351, Ca 101bis) 29 May 1934 to
I-ABCQ (?) January 1932 to Ministero
Ministero
Aeronautica,
I-ABBW (3205, Ca 101 CO – Coloniali)
I-BANA
(ex
Aeronautica, Roma, fate unknown;
March 1932 to Patto Italo Etiopico SA,
February 1936 to Aeronautical Military
Roma,
to
Littoria, Bengasi, August 1937 sold abroad;
MM60024)
Lapodichino, fate unknown;
to
RUNA,
I-AASW (21, ca. 101B) owner unknown;
Administration;
I-ABMA (Ca 101 C) owner unknown.
1932 to SA Nord-Afrika Aviazione, Bengasi
Specifications:
I-ABCH (3337, Ca 101 CO – Coloniali) May
and July 1932 destroyed beyond repair;
Ala
Span 19.80m
Length 13.85m
Height
Wing area 57m²
Engines: three 130hp*
Empty weight 1,200kg
I-ABCB (3252, Ca 101bis) December 1932 to
SA Nord-Afrika Aviazione, Bengasi, March
1934 destroyed beyond repair;
I-ABCC (Ca 101 bis) December 1931 to SA
Nord-Afrika Aviazione, Bengasi, to Ala
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Loaded weight 2,500kg
Maximum speed 195kmh
Caproni
Ca
105(*1930?):
High-wing
monoplane with a single 200hp Lynx engine.
It was able to carry four passengers, luggage
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and two crew. The aircraft was similar to the
Maximum speed 200kmh
delivered in December 1932: One for
metal single-engine monoplane for airmail
Ca 101 and Ca 97. Only two were built and
Caproni (I-ABCE) and one for the (IFOCO)
Ministero
Aeronautica,
Their fate is unfortunately unknown.
Roma.
Caproni Ca 108: Study project for an alland cargo based on the Caproni Ca 105. It
was to be powered by a 240hp radial engine
and the aircraft would have a speed of
185kmh.
Caproni Ca 111 (*1932): Developed from the
Ca 101 as a single-engine long-range
reconnaissance aircraft. The prototype flew
for the first time in February 1932 with the
military serial MM.205. The designer was
Specifications:
Rodolfo Verduzio and he built a sturdy but
Length 9.60m
It was mainly constructed for military service,
Wing area 26m²
civilian air register on the name of Ministero
Empty weight 850kg
(205) and I-ACIA (3366). A fourth aircraft
Span 14.00m
simple construction. It had a three-man crew.
Height 3.00m
but three aircraft were registered in the
Engines: one 200hp
Aeronautica: I-ABIC (c/n 10534), I-ABYG
Loaded weight 1,450kg
(I-ALMA) was delivered to Martini Ceratto
Maximum speed 190kmh
at Sardo.
Caproni Ca 106: Study project of an
Specifications:
The biplane had its engines mounted in
Length 15.30m
amphibian with two 500hp Jupiter engines.
Span 19.68m
between the two wings.
Wing area 61.70m²
Specifications:
Empty weight 3,350kg
Length 14.50m
Maximum speed 265kmh
Wing area 130m²
Caproni Ca 112 (*1932): Study for a
Engines: one 750hp
Loaded weight 5,350kg
Span 23.00m
Height 6.00m
Engines: two 500hp
passenger aircraft based on the Ca 111 and
Loaded weight 5,500kg
would have a maximum speed of 220kmh.
was to be powered by an 800hp engine. It
Empty weight 3,500kg
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Caproni Ca 123 (*1934): Based on the Ca 122
Wing area 18m²
was thought to be a ‘copy’ of the American
Empty weight 750kg
bomber this was to be the civilian version. It
Douglas DC 2. The all-metal aircraft was
constructed to carry crew of three (pilot,
second pilot and radio operator) and 28
Engines: three 60hp
Loaded weight 1,350kg
Maximum speed 180kmh
persons and or airmail over long distances.
Caproni Ca 129: A low-wing all-metal twin-
Rhone 14 Krs engines. It had retractable
128 and did not come any further than the
The aircraft was powered by two Gnome &
landing gear and had NACA cowlings. The
engines had a three-bladed propeller. The
airliner was never taken in service with
airlines and Ala Littoria SA (the Italian
national carrier) relied on the Savoia-
Marchetti
land-based
aircraft.
specifications are unknown.
Detailed
engine monoplane based on the Caproni Ca
drawing board. It was to be powered by two
120hp engines. The measurements were as
the Ca 128, but the maximum speed was
considerably higher. None were built.
Specifications:
Span 11.75m
Length 7.40m
Height 3.10m
Wing area 18m²
Engines: two 120hp
Empty weight 750kg
Loaded weight 1,350kg
Maximum speed 275kmh
The impressive Caproni Ca 123.
Caproni Ca 132 (*1934): This was a smaller
Caproni Ca 128: Study of a three-engine,
version of the Ca 123 and employed the basic
for service on feeder lines and had just three
retractable landing gear. It became thus a
four passengers in a small cabin. None were
passenger airliner. Its three engines were of
low-wing all-metal aircraft. It was designed
wing structure, tail and was equipped with a
60hp engines. It could carry one pilot and
low-wing three-engine all-metal twenty-
built.
the type Stella IX RC and delivered 610hp,
Specifications:
Gnome & Rhone engines of the Ca 123. The
Length 7.40m
streamlined spats.
which delivered a greater output as the
main undercarriage was housed within large
Span 11.75m
Height 3.10m
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Specifications:
I-DIRI registered 7 October 1936
Span 27.85m
I-DAUA registered 18 November 1936
Length 18.60m
I-TANG registered 23 December 1936
Height 4.15m
I-NIMI registered 23 January 1937
Wing area 85m²
I-AGLE registered 16 February 1937
Engines: three 610hp
I-DABO registered 7 April 1937
Empty weight 6,000kg
I-ROLE registered 20 May 1937
Loaded weight 9,500kg
I-DALI registered 2 June 1937
Maximum speed 290kmh
I-ADUR registered 30 June 1937
The aircraft were mainly operated on the
African routes and it is known that they have
flown on the line Rome – Benghazi – Caïro –
The Caproni Ca 132 was to compete with the Douglas
DC2.
Caproni
Wadi Halfa – Khartoum – Asmara – Addis
Ababa and in East Africa including Asmara –
Assab – Diredawa, Diredawa – Gorrohei –
Ca
133
(*1934):
The
final
development from the Ca 101 was the Ca 133
that was designed by Rodolfo Verduzio. It
was again a high-wing monoplane powered
by three 460hp Piaggio StellaP.VII C.16
radial engines. The civilian version had a
cabin for sixteen passengers. But still the
aircraft was of welded steel-tube construction
and fabric-covered except for the forward
fuselage, which had sheet metal skin. The
wheels were fitted in large spats and there was
Belet’Ven – Mogadiscio, Asmara – Assab –
Djibouti and Addis Ababa – Diredawa –
Djibouti. They operated these service at least
until 1939 and only one has been recorded
lost: After one year in service the Caproni Ca
133, I-GURU crashed in September 1937 and
was destroyed beyond repair. The registration
of the Ca 133, I-NINI was for unknown
reasons cancelled in October 1938.
The aircraft carried 10,000 passengers and
operated with a regularity of 99.9 %.
a steerable tail wheel. John Stroud wrote that
production was believed to have been at least
275, but than most were delivered to the
military. The civil version saw service at
Italian airline Ala Littoria SA, which used a
fleet of thirteen aircraft:
The Caproni Ca 133, I-DABO was delivered to Ala
I-NINI registered 1936
I-AXUM registered 27 August 1936
I-ZULA registered 1 September 1936
Littoria in April 1937 and operated on the airline’s African
network.
I-GURA registered 5 September 1936
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Caproni Ca 148 (*1937): A final development
of the Ca 133 was the Ca 148. It too had three
460hp Piaggio Stella VII engines and was
designed for Colonial services incorporating
the experiences gained with the Ca 133. The
first flight was made at Milan/Taliedo in May
1937 with the I-POGG (c/n 4145). All
aircraft produced were delivered to a new
airline by the name of Società Anonyme Avio
Trasporti and were based in Assab. While Ala
Littoria SA was expanding in the Italian
Kingdom, the transport company Baccherin
& Poggi in Abbas (in Eritrea) formed with
approval of the Colonial government a new
airline company for the transportation of
passengers and goods in East Africa: Società
Anonyme Avio Trasporti. The airline’s first
aircraft were four Caproni Ca 148s that
arrived on board of the M/S ‘Icarnia’ in
October 1938. They were registered as I-
POGG (c/n 4145), I-TERE (4146), I-LUIG
(4147) and I-EDVI (4148), supplemented by
another two in December: I-ROSA (4149)
and I-NERI (4151). The next six were
The prototype of the Caproni Ca.148 at Caproni’s factory
airfield at Milan, Taliedo in May 1937. It was later sold to
the SA Avio Trasporti.
With
this
aircraft
in a later article return with some of the
civilian products of the other Capronifactories.
Sources:
Gli Aeroplani Caproni, New York, 1980
European Transport Aircraft since 1910, John Stroud,
1966
Italian Civil and Military Aircraft 1930-1945, Jonathan
Thompson, Fallbrook, 1963
Dimensione Cielo Trasporto, No. 7, Roma, 1974
Pictures:
European Airlines Rob Mulder
Scans from the book ‘Gli Aeroplani Caproni’
GOGG, I-TESS, I-LANG, I-ETIO, I-
SOMA and I-NEGH. All aircraft were used
on local air services and at least six were in
June 1940 transferred to Ala Littoria
Commando Aeronautica as MM.60477 –
MM.60482. The aircraft I-LANG crashed on
10 November 1940 and was destroyed beyond
repair. In February 1941 the remaining
transferred
Amministrazione Militare.
to
the
© 2009, article published on
the
from the Caproni factory at Taliedo. We will
September 1938 – February 1939 and were: I-
were
conclude
presentation of some of the civilian versions
delivered on behalf of the airline in the period
aircraft
we
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